From the Bookshelf of Undead & UnRead Book Club - Frisco Public Library…

The Year of the Witching (Bethel, #1)

Alexis Henderson

Start date: August 11, 2021

Finish date: September 14, 2021

Discussion: 2021 Meetings

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2021 Meetings

December - Bird Box
By Amy · 3 posts · 5 views

last updated Dec 18, 2021 11:44AM

November - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
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last updated Nov 01, 2021 04:54PM

What Members Thought

Sep 14, 2021 Amanda Kratz rated it liked it

Shelves: 2021-undead-and-unread-book-club

So this will be a weird review. This was read for the Undead & Unread book club

When I finished the book I thought wow I liked it and I was considering rating it either 4 or 5 stars. It’s dark it’s gritty, it read super fast I was always intrigued it flowed well all and all a solid book.

At the back of the book however we’re some discussion questions. They pointed out the flaws in the world building and now I can’t get over it. Massive lack of back story and one huge major plot hole/flaw.

So in thi So this will be a weird review. This was read for the Undead & Unread book club

When I finished the book I thought wow I liked it and I was considering rating it either 4 or 5 stars. It’s dark it’s gritty, it read super fast I was always intrigued it flowed well all and all a solid book.

At the back of the book however we’re some discussion questions. They pointed out the flaws in the world building and now I can’t get over it. Massive lack of back story and one huge major plot hole/flaw.

So in this world the people are living essentially in a cult (I really wanted someone to realize it… they never do). Immanuelle’s mother died in childbirth and she is given this journal of her mom while she went insane and she realizes she has been crafted as a weapon, a bringer of plagues, set on course to change their world/town.

There is a tad bit of romance here, and it’s so insta love ugh. Also this is a knock more on the tropethan the book but why is it every time there is an evil parent their child is completely the opposite, knows right from wrong and is gonna help stop them. Why isn’t the kid ever evil also?

Overall it was a super short read, easy and interesting but I’m not sure I want to continue despite that.

————————Spoilers——————————

Again super well written until you stop and start questioning things. There are these witches in the woods who are ghosts? Spirits? I dunno. These witches were killed 150/200 years ago by this prophet David. The witches want revenge on the church/town. But we never see their desires. I really don’t know the purpose of the witches in the story. How are they bad? What did they do? They don’t seem vengeful. When it comes out the mom (who had died in childbirth) she had cursed the town for killing her lover. The witches really played no part. I don’t understand their purpose. You could remove them from the story and it wouldn’t change at all. They show up and attack people? Why? I don’t get it. Also how do you kill something that is already dead. They acted like oh yeah just curse them with plague and they fall over. Are you not afraid they will come back yet again and seek vengeance. Like seriously the whole witch thing is a big mess and a miss.

There is a big deal about a baby that is cursed and born with no name. Then the child is never mentioned again.

There is not enough back story to the world. How is the town/world split the way it is? Why? Why are all the outsiders another race, it seem like it was harmonious before. Yet now it divided on racial lines over a religious issue? What’s the difference between the church of the mother and father ? Why don’t they get along? What started the wars? Why is witch craft bad and yet the visions the prophet get good? They are both using blood magic/slaughters.

Ezra gets his first vision from the father - that’s great! WHAT IS IT?!?! We never find out. He falls down convulsing with his vision and they never mention it again. It’s supposed to be word of god and what they listen to and how they change and never once through words or action do we what he saw. That drives me crazy. ...more

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Jul 30, 2020 Amy rated it really liked it

I ended up really liking The Year of the Witching. The themes are not anything new. It is a story of a puritanical society that uses fear to control. The fear is accusing people especially women of witchcraft. I liked that this book is own voices and the heroine is a young biracial woman. She kicks ass and doesn’t back down to the patriarchy. The Year of Witching is a horror book and there are some dark themes so I give caution if you are sensitive to horror.

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